Students are placed in a year grade according to chronological age on September 1st . Please see Admissions Policies and Grade Placement Chart for details of this.

Where a new student has previously completed a year grade in their home country or at another international school, accepting only expatriate students, in advance of the chronological year grade placement criteria current at NIS, parents/guardians may override the Director's advice that the student should be placed in a year grade according to the NIS year grade placement criteria.

If the Director is satisfied, following review of certified transfer documentation, that it is in the student's interest to be placed in a year grade above that to which the student is chronologically eligible for admission, standard year grade placement may be overridden.

However, there will be a 4-week trial period from the date of entry, in the age-appropriate grade, after which parents and teachers will meet to discuss placement and recommendations. The Director will make a decision at this point, based on the outcomes of the discussion and the best interests of the child.

In cases where parents/guardians override school advice, parents/guardians will be issued with a written statement from the Director confirming that they have chosen to override the advice given.